Thanksgiving

With my dad having passed away four months ago, I thought I would write a Thanksgiving tribute to the man who taught me how to shoot a bow.

When I was around the age of thirteen, my dad decided it was time he would start taking me on his annual Thanksgiving Mule Deer hunt. This was always in the Cascade Mountains and it was always a bit of a scary experience. Armed with our bows, snow camo, and the Toyota Land Cruiser, we were off. I always dreaded these trips, but I felt bad having him go alone, and I’m not sure if I really had a choice; so off we went on my dad’s version of a winter vacation, in pursuit of the elusive Pope & Young trophy Mule Deer!

A fairly typical trip included at least one near death experience, and this was often before we even got to the secret hunting area. This was due in part to my dad’s prevailing faith in his 4WD Land Cruiser – a faith which manifested itself in various ways...for example, he seemed to think that no matter how harsh the driving conditions, putting chains on was somehow cheating. Because of this, at some point on our hunting trip, we usually came close to sliding off an ice-covered country road, like some John Denver song gone bad. One year, while making our chainless drive, our forward momentum quickly became rearward acceleration…we were sliding backwards, with a rather ominous drop-off on my dad’s side of the Land Cruiser…i.e., a pseudo cliff. By this point I had grabbed the door handle, preparing to eject…my dad, heavily breathing due to his Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Syndrome, gasped for air and told me to get ready to jump. Waiting for the perfect moment to lunge out of the sliding car, and I’m sure praying like I’ve never prayed before, we slid into a dirt wall opposite the cliff.

Once securely imbedded into the dirt bank, my dad felt it was time to put the chains on…hello!!! So, we chained up, and proceeded to climb the iced over, rutted out, logging road. We then saw a Big Foot’esque Ford Pickup nearly slide off the road, as well as some other 4x4. At one point, I looked over the edge of the cliff and saw an upside-down Ford Bronco with a sign on it that said “Thieves Will Be Shot!”

Due to trauma, I’m not sure what happened the rest of that hunting trip, but it was certainly not my only memory of near-death due to plunging off an iced over logging road. I also have memories of a blizzard nearly killing my dad...meanwhile, I had made my way back to the Land Cruiser, in the dark, waiting for him to come out of the mountains. Again praying like crazy, I was wondering what I should do? I had never driven before, and the roads were terrible, but I kept praying, and honking. The prayers were answered and he made it out alive. There was also a Thanksgiving trip when the temperature dropped into the negative 20’s, which, even in my dad’s hybrid tent, was about 80 degrees cooler than a comfortable room temperature for sleeping…and, mind you, this was not just your ordinary tent, my dad had added on an extra cooking room/enclosed covered entryway. This must have added at least 30% more living space to our already spacious five-man tent, yet somehow it still fit nicely in his aftermarket, water resistant Duffle Bag (my dad was a master folder).

Last week, when out taking pictures and shooting video, I had a hunting trip flashback; sensing that those experiences were more than just life endangering memories that I shared with my dad – but times of development; learning skills that I am using and benefiting from today. So, this Thanksgivings in particular, as I’m away from my family, I find myself missing as well as appreciating my dad, and all of our memorable hunting trips, knowing that these were invaluable times of learning – learning to patiently watch, listen, and wait for that perfect shot.

Hans and Franz…

Well, time is quickly passing here in K-ville...and I think winter is here to stay. A little over a month ago I joined Kosovo's equivalent to Gold’s Gym…It's not often that I've worked out in a place where I can see my breath and where the ligting comes via three candles...it's sort of romantic I guess, but it makes it a bit difficult to motivate oneself to workout...and to see what you're doing once you're there. Anyhow...it's getting late, but I wanted to post a little update before going to bed. This is some text that I'm putting together for several sponsors - it gives some information regarding the direction of the project. -- 11/21/05 -- It has just been revised and can be seen at visionfilmworks.com/pr

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November, 2005 -- Here in Kosovo the winter is quickly approaching and with it comes an infrequency of electricity and running water. As the days get shorter, the darkness brought on by the power outages has itself become a character in the film. What do the people do during these long hours of darkness? When you don't have money to fuel a generator or to go out, you light a few candles and stay at home - and then what? You sit in a room that is kept warm by a wood stove and you wait. A few stories might be told, some tea will inevitably be served, and then comes the deafening silence, like a ringing bell - a daily reminder of the oppressive past and the uncertain future. Even though the war has ended, there is still a battle being waged in Kosovo - a battle that is seen everyday as the power goes out and the candles are lit - when the silence comes.

Despite the many overwhelming challenges of life in Kosovo, a sense of hope still remains. This hope can be seen through those who continue to press on and pursue their dreams - dreams of reconciliation, independence, and economic stability. One such dreamer is Luli Hoti, a 28-year-old artist who loves Elvis Presley, classic cars, and making movies. Luli is one of those looking beyond the current situation in Kosovo in pursuit of his artistic dreams.

Luli Hoti is currently in preproduction on a short film that takes place in the town of Trepca, home of one of the richest mines in Europe. Luli's short film illustrates the significance of this small town and its role in the future of Kosovo. In December, Luli will be showing his completed film in what is left of a bombed out theater - an empty shell bearing no resemblance of its past grandeur. Due to limited resources and a lack of suitable venues, the disheveled theater has proven to be a creative way for Luli to show his film and put on an event that the local community and media are behind. The film also has the potential to bring a renewed sense of hope and purpose to the people of this small town and beyond, as Luli desires to present his film in Trepca, as well as throughout Europe and North America.

Vision FilmWorks is capturing Luli's journey as he pursues a December debut in Trepca's war torn theater. In following this journey there will undoubtedly be many obstacles for Luli to overcome before his December debut, yet these challenges will help to illustrate the struggles as well as the beauty of life in Kosovo. With primitive equipment, sporadic electricity, and no trained crew, Luli is working against seemingly insurmountable odds, yet he continues to push on in pursuit of his dream. Through documenting the making of Luli's film, the doors have been opened, allowing a glimpse into a land with a recognized name yet a forgotten story. It is through this right of passage that our documentary seeks to tell the true stories behind Luli's fictional film, and these are the stories that carry with them a glimpse into the true Kosovo.

Writer’s constipation…

A local cow pasture near where
Luli will be shooting his short film

Yesterday I was sitting in front of my computer for hours…trying to work on a new detailed outline for the film. It was a struggle to say the least. Writer’s block, thinker’s block, blocker’s block…I had it all. Finally I stood up and began praying – and with bit more desperation in this prayer than my others. I sat back down at my picnic table and opened a new blank Word document. I began applying pressure to random keys, as if I knew what I was supposed to be typing. Then, I began erasing, as my ideas were again scattered…then writing, and erasing, and then, about two hours later, what do you know, the writing had overtaken the erasing and I had a 49 point outline of the film. At about 2:00 am I was feeling an interpersonal victory of sorts, a sense that I can turn my camera on with a deliberate reason for doing so. That’s a good feeling, especially after several years of certainty, yet lack of clarity – certainty that I should be working on this film – lack of clarity as to what the film was about.

So, know that prayers are being answered. Part of my midnight prayer was that the Lord would protect me from any spiritual attack that was stifling my creativity. Whether or not this was part of the problem, the Lord answered my prayer and allowed me to complete the outline. Kosovo is a spiritually dark region – from the atrocities of the war to the spiritual battle that’s been waged in this region for hundreds of years, this is a place where your spiritual armor needs to be on good and tight. I’ve heard that said many times before regarding Kosovo, and it’s true. The Bible makes it emphatically clear that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against something far more evil, powerful, and not of this realm. So, know that your prayers are desperately needed and greatly appreciated. The next six weeks are going to be extremely challenging. I’m halfway through the shoot, but I feel like the true test is yet to come…as is the true reward. So, pray, pray, and pray – for spiritual protection, vision, creativity, and the ability to listen and follow the real director of this project, the author of life.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

The Axe and the Beggar

A local blacksmith sharpening an old axe

A local beggar, which is a surprisingly rare site

These pictures seem to sum up how I’m feeling at the moment…like the axe and the beggar. There’s a strong sense of God – who is the blacksmith, and I’m the old axe being hammered! I’m also feeling a bit like the beggar, totally at the mercy of those around me...and at the mercy of God. Both of which are good. It often takes jumping out of our comfort zone to get this little wakeup call…for me it took heading back to Kosovo, once again with a true sense of purpose, yet with no real sense of direction.

I’ve known all along that the Lord wants me here working on this project, the question remains, what stories do I focus on, what approach do I take in telling these stories, and how do I knit them all together? I feel good about three of the stories, and feel like they can drive the film, but at the same time I’m trying to discover the best way to tell these stories, how to relate them to each other or to the documentary, and what is the unique voice of this film…what makes this film worth watching: distinct, funny, sad, ironic…

So, I’ve spent hours this week staring at my computer working on a new outline, walking last night in the rain for a couple of hours listening and thinking, and now back at my computer feeling a bit better. Though still I’m overwhelmed knowing that I have less than 7 weeks to finish filming and to get on a plane heading home in time for Christmas. Soooo, know that your prayers are cherished and are greatly needed in the next few weeks as I try and capture the story of Kosovo…something that has eluded me for the past six years.

Working as a blacksmith since he was thirteen

Cutting a deal